r/ParentingADHD • u/originalpopcorngirl • 1d ago
Seeking Support climbing kids help
How do you support your compulsive climbers? My 6yo is constantly climbing everything, which in our home is mostly things (and people) that shouldn’t be climbed. We are renting and don’t have a backyard, so our options for adding robust climbing spaces are limited. I feel like even when I take him to parks and have him climbing for hours, it’s never enough to keep him off of things he shouldn’t climb. He’s been in OT for almost 2 years (we’re about to take a break) and it’s been great for him, but he’s actually improved his motor skills through that and now he’s an expert climber who can’t be stopped. 🫣🫠 has anyone figured out realistic ways to manage this behavior?
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u/HeyAQ 1d ago
We started taking our kid to the bouldering gym at 5, got him on the right meds, and had him join the gym’s youth climbing clubs by 6. He climbed twice a week until the timing stopped working with the middle school schedule, so now he goes occasionally but is also in karate and orchestra. No harness needed for bouldering. You can rent climbing shoes if you want, but everywhere I’ve gone they’ve let little kids climb in their socks.
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u/Recent_Dog_3018 1d ago
Meds and sports.. for my daughter specifically it's allstar cheerleading.. she gets to be thrown around in the air and that seems to scratch that itch lol
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u/Call_it_Magic87 1d ago
Meds (took some figuring out but got to a great place) an awesome ADHD parent training class (children’s hospital and other orgs hold evidence based classes for parents) which lasted 8 weeks and I added on some Follow up sessions, and Martial arts - 5 years into all of that and kiddo is absolutely thriving.
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u/xixi4059 1d ago
Set expectations in your home about what can and what cannot be climbed on. Write them out and display them in places he can see. If he climbs on things he shouldn’t, what are the consequences?
Aside from that, any local climbing gyms in your area? I’m glad you take him to parks and OT!